Respiration Flashcards
what does respiratory pathway consist of ?
. nose . nasal cavity . paranasal sinuses . pharynx . larynx . trachea . bronchi . alveoli
What forms the conducting portion of the respiratory tract
The early parts of the respiratory pathway from the nose to the larger bronchioles
What is the function of conducting portion of respiratory tract ?
. no gas exchange occurs here
. air is cleaned , warmed , moistened
. Conducts air from outside into alveoli
What is in the respiratory part of tract ?
Small bronchioles and alveoli
What happens in the respiratory part of tract ?
Gas exchange - CO2/O2
Where does most inspiration occur
Through nose, can in mouth
What are paranasal sinuses
Spaces in head - air pushes in there
Air filled spaces/sinues that surround nasal cavity, they also contain blood vessel- (also serve to warm the air)
found in bones around nose
What is function of nasal cavity ( nose )
. conducts air to the pharynx ( connects atmosphere to nasal pharynx )
. contains olfactory receptors = sense of smell
. warms air
. moistens air
. cleans air
How is air conditioned
By warming, moistening and cleaning it
Why do you need to clean, moisten and warm air
CLEAN - Alveoli has delicate structures - want to get rid of the dirt from the alveoli
WARM - SA of lungs is huge, if you breathe in cold air, core temp decreases quickly so you want warm air into lungs
MOISTEN - If alveoli dry, they cant absorb respiratory gases - for gas exchange to happen, gases have to dissolve in something so has to be moist
What are olfactory receptors?
They line superior region of the nasal cavity - upper part of nose
Bipolar cells
produce action potential
what is the nasal cavity most lined with ?
pseudostratified ciliated epithelium containing goblet cells and nasal glands ( cilia on top )
What type of secretions are nasal gland
Mucous and Serous
What does nasal gland also contains
Antibacterial enzymes e.g. lysozome
What is the function of mucous in the nasal cavity ?
Traps impurities ( dust particles ) to clean the air /they help warm and moisten hair
What is the function of serous secretions in nasal cavity ?
Moisten the air
What is the function of superficial blood vessels in nasal cavity?
Warm the air
What is the function of cilia ?
Ciliated because impurities get trapped by mucus and need to get rid of mucus
The cilia of the nasal epithelium beat moving trapped impurities to the pharynx were they are swallowed
What happens in cold weather to the beating of cilia ?
Beating of cilia slows down and nose drips = runny nose
Cold/runny nose = secrete more antibacterial enzymes = more mucous = snotty nose
Mucus runs up front rather than go to back of throat
Cilia beat back towards pharynx in a rythmical manner - swallow mucous or spit it out
What do increased nasal secretions also account for
Stuffed up, runny noses following infection ( rhinitis )
What is the function of sensory nerve endings?
Trigger the sneeze reflex to expel impurities by complex series of muscle contractions
How many sensory nerve endings in nose
3
What happens to tears
Drained through puncta into nose and wafted back into cilia by pharynx - swallow tears
What is the function of paranasal sinuses ?
Decrease the weight of skull , they also warm and moisten the air
What happens after air passes through nasal cavity ?
Enters the pharynx ( which can be divided into different regions ) before entering larynx
What is larynx
Complex tube (modified part of the trachea) - which is made of muscle and cartilage. Not involved in respiration
What is the function of larynx?
Muscles contract to vibrate the vocal folds-produce sounds
What also goes down pharynx and larynx
Food
What is trachea
10-12 cm long tube connecting the larynx to the primary bronchi ( one going to left lung and one to right lung )
Where do primary bronchi enters and what happens there
Lungs
They subdivide into secondary bronchi and bronchioles
What lies next to trachea
Oesophagus - where food goes through
What is trachea surrounded by
C-shaped cartilaginous rings ( incomplete - doesnt go all way around )
What is function of C shaped cartilage rings
Allow trachea to change shape/diameter
stops trachea collapsing every time we eat
So we dont suffocate when we eat
what is the structure of trachea?
. Inner surface is covered by mucosa which is ciliated pseudostratified epithelium , and contains goblet cell
. The submucosa contain seromucous glands
-Ciliated
. Smooth muscle
Function of smooth muscle in trachea
Regulate flow of air by changing diameter of trachea/airway
Function of seromucous glands in trachea
Trap impurities and moisten the air
Produce antibacterial enzymes
Why is trachea ciliated
- Produce cilia - the cilia beat to move the trapped impurities to the pharynx- to swallow mucous
- When impurities are trapped by mucous, produced by goblet cells, they beat and move mucous collecting in lungs upwards through trachea into pharynx into mouth - swallow it
- Cilia grows back
How does the structure of the respiratory tract change as you progress downwards from the trachea
It simplifies
How does the structure of respiratory tract simplify as one progress downwards from the trachea?
. The cartilaginous rings are simplified to isolated plaques before disappearing
. The epithelium changes form pseudostratified to simple columnar to cuboidal to squamous in alveoli - height of alveoli decreases = EPITHELIUM SIMPLER
. The number of goblet cells decrease
. Number of cilia also decrease
. Elastic fibres remain constant through out system